WELLINGTON NAVALS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 185, 30 April 1908, Page 9

WELLINGTON NAVALS.

1 annual meetinq.

The annual meeting of the 'Wellington .Naval Artillery Volunteers was held in tho company's boats,lied last.evening,; Captain Meiizios, officer nommauding-. tho corps,' presiding. I.icut.'Golpnbl C. J. Cooper, commanding the Lyttol'ton division 1 of. Garrison -Artillery, yns: *W present. ■ ; . / The annual report, stated that tho number 'or tho roll of. the corps was 120, and of these , 50 : joined during tho year. It was estimated 'that 110 men capitated for last year. -It'was reported that 90 nieii passed in gunnery, 15 in D. K. i l .': work,'s .in 'signalling, rind 37 iii •gunlayiiig; of tl>e last mentioned 24; got .a badge only. llr.-V. tt. Meredith was eleoted n lieutenant duriiigi; the ' liijit camp. C.P.O. Harris, a member of the'corps''Since'its'inooption,-has beo■ ntrajisferred to' tho Koserve at his. owii request, and his long and faithful porvico with the' corps', .lifts been placed on record. P.O.' Francis could ngt see his way to continue on as ; N.C.O.y and resigned his stripes. Following .C.PIO. Harris's retirement, was : promoted, tp'bo. Gl'.'O.v P.O.'s M'Kay-and Hep"iiilrii'were advanced a step to sergeant, and fP:o.'s Johnson, Bishop,. Sinclair, and Cowan: to corporals; -Gunners'. Howard, Burge, Briiidle, and Jaffray were promoted to N.C.O.'s rank. P.O. Dixon was transferred to , the ,Kes*ervb,'. ; atfd P.O. -Nixon resigned, during' the year. •t- '.j'-'- v ■ • ' '■ ■ Satisfaction !wiis' expressed at Captain Richardson's' well-earned ',: promotion. , Captain. Hichai'dson delisted;' two "• highly-instructive i\nd intorcs.tiug lectures to hioniuers during tho year, ami was present'at the ninwal camp in .Ills capaeitj';.as Director.'■'■of Artillery. .. Till?-. s"tatoiuent; : of ;reoeipts'and payments on both tho capitation aiid private accounts I 'slio\vod,.dcbit. balances of- .£l6 lis.' Id. and -.£3 rlfe.iOd. respectively.' The balance of the money diie' oii'the addition to tho. Boat Station was ; pi\i4 :;d.iiviiig • tho..year, aiid the., donations by members of their personal payments for Saturday} divliglit patades materially assisted v the 'company-' financially;'. 'Thanks were expressed i tb : I Captain. E,' 'B. " Bell, P.O. ITKay, , and (juiinors 'Trevor and l)anu for donations' towards- tho building. ■' . :-' t The general eHiciency of all ranks was main'tti.inedV; aud -'the results of the examinations allowed- that in every subject higher average marks had been obtained this year as compared with last yeajr.-iThe percentage of.increase in ;eftqieiVcy jot' the .'past. year, is 'shown ill, tho ;following tablei—, . _

1506-7. ISO 7-8. N .Gunriory ' • . ••• ® 'S3 Umige-finding Sl-.4 '. fiji . 'Signalling*- ••• 79-8' , 87.8 * feuiv-laying' — • ••• ; .... ;S9 .91.6 . ' (I'mmpelerfl ... ... 15 '. 20 1 Fort-manning , . •• ". Oft !)5. . Attendance ... ... ...' 91.3 ' • 06 ,The Challenge Cup for competition among :tbb; gun-detachments,-; presented by Mr.' Pair, ww of Cuba Street, was-awarded'by Captain .'.Richardson to thp 12-pounder dotachinents (P.O. Ross). . Shooting at Miriimar range' bad " increased ill interest, and tbo company was indebted to C.P.0., Martin ' for. tbo Martin" tiivdges, which ' stimulated. competition. The suocOfs cif th'e season was largely due to the excellent' work of the. shooting committee and'its secretary.' . ' " r ■' ;.■■■.